Durban - South Africans turned out in their numbers on Monday to welcome senior Springboks and management home - proving that win or lose, they are behind the men in green and gold.
The Boks exited the Rugby World Cup on Sunday after losing 11-9 to Australia in their quarter-final duel.
As much as the fans were keen to see their heroes, questions around coach Peter de Villiers's future also permeated the air. After the Boks' loss, De Villiers had indicated his journey as head coach was over but on Monday, he sang a different tune.
"No, I never resigned. I was just saying it was the end of the road. It's logical, I have a four-year contract and I've known all along that this day would come. I will live and die by that contract, which ends in December and then I won't have a job," De Villiers said at a news conference.
He added: "After the match, I didn't feel in control. People want security and I was the only coach at the tournament who didn't know his future. But the writing is on the wall - I will read it and move on."
Initially following the match, the flamboyant coach had said that while he had had a brilliant journey, "there was a time to come and a time to go. So I think the journey for me is over."
Emotions were still running high following the Boks' loss, considering how dominant they were and the questionable decisions that went against them.
De Villiers called South Africa's outgoing captain John Smit and vice-captain Victor Matfield his "heroes". He paid tribute to the astute and prolific leaders as they announced their international retirements.
The coach told South Africans that the Boks did not intentionally let them down. "The players bruised themselves and broke their bones for South Africa."
Smit, whose face still carries the scars from the tournament, said: "We did set some goals which we did not achieve and we've had to put on some brave faces - it's been an emotional two days. But I don't want to let this loss be a reflection of the last 10 - 11 years. It's been a wonderful ride and I have no regrets."
Matfield, joined by his two young daughters on his lap, said there were no regrets, and the Boks did everything they could.
"There are no thoughts of 'if we had done that little thing differently we could have won the World Cup' - we never gave up," said Matfield.
Deputy Minister of Sport Gert Oosthuizen, who was also at OR Tambo International Airport, welcomed the twice world champions.
"There's no doubt that this exit has been heartbreaking and extremely painful, after we won everything in the final match except on the scoreboard. Welcome home Springboks. You fought so hard to retain the cup and you are really national heroes," said Oosthuizen.
